Robert E. Galer

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Robert Edward Galer
United States of America
Service/branchUnited States Marine Corps
Years of service1935–1957
Rank Brigadier General
Commands heldVMF-224
Marine Aircraft Group 12
Battles/warsWorld War II Korean War
AwardsMedal of Honor
Legion of Merit
Distinguished Flying Cross (2)
Purple Heart
Air Medal (5)
Other workVice President of Ling-Temco-Vought

Battle of Guadalcanal in World War II.[1] He went on to command Marine Aircraft Group 12 during the Korean War
and retired a few years after in 1957.

Early life

Robert Galer was born in

Seattle, Washington, on 24 October 1913. He attended the University of Washington and was a brother of the Alpha Upsilon chapter of the Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity and an All-American in basketball.[1]
He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in commercial engineering in 1935, at which time he received an ROTC commission and began elimination flight training at the Naval Reserve Aviation Base, Seattle.

Marine Corps career

In June 1936, he began his Aviation Cadet flight training at the

New York Navy Yard, but shortly thereafter was transferred to the Virgin Islands, where he served with Marine Scouting Squadron 3 (VMS-3) at Bourne Field, St. Thomas
. He was promoted to first lieutenant in July 1939.

World War II and after

NAS Pensacola
, Florida, after 50 years in the Pacific Ocean off the California coast. It is marked as it was when ditched by 1st Lt. Galer.

First Lieutenant Galer returned to the continental United States in June 1940 and in July reported to the

VMF-211) when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor
on 7 December 1941.

In May 1942, Galer assumed command of Marine Fighting Squadron 224 (

VMF-224) and on 30 August 1942 led the squadron to Guadalcanal, where they became part of the Cactus Air Force. It was while in command of VMF-224 that Galer would be credited with 11 confirmed victories and be awarded the Medal of Honor and a rare British Distinguished Flying Cross
for the same acts of heroism.

Following the presentation of the Medal of Honor by President Franklin D. Roosevelt at the White House on 24 March 1943, Major Galer was ordered to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, where he served as assistant operations officer. He was grounded because his superiors did not want to risk losing a Medal of Honor recipient; he had been shot down three times during the war.[1] Shortly after being promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel in November 1943, he was ordered to return to the Hawaii, where he became chief of staff, Marine Air, Hawaiian Area.

In May 1944, Galer was named as operations officer, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. He served as an observer during the Palau Islands and Iwo Jima campaigns while on temporary duty from the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. His next assignment found him as training officer of Provisional Air Support Command, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific.

He again returned to the United States in June 1945 and reported to the Marine Barracks, Naval Air Training Base,

Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Virginia
.

In June 1948, he reported to the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, at the

Naval Air Station San Diego, California. He served there as Marine planning officer and, later, as assistant chief of staff for plans, on the staff of the commander, air force, U.S. Pacific Fleet. During his assignment, he was promoted to colonel
in March 1951.

Korean War

Galer sailed in March 1952 for South Korea, where he saw duty as assistant chief of staff, G-4 (Supply), of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing until the following May. He was then named commanding officer of Marine Aircraft Group 12 (MAG-12), and, for extraordinary achievement on 11 July 1952, was awarded a Gold Star in lieu of a second Distinguished Flying Cross.[1] According to the citation accompanying this medal, he "led a maximum effort strike of Marine attack aircraft against a heavily defended industrial area in the North Korean capital city of Pyongyang."

Galer was also awarded the Legion of Merit with Combat "V" for his service in Korea. On 5 August 1952, he was shot down behind enemy lines by anti-aircraft fire while leading a flight of 31 warplanes against targets near the North Korean port city of Wonsan.[1] He later admitted he "did a dumb thing": After completing the mission, "I went back to take a picture. And this anti-aircraft gun, he nailed me."[1] He was later rescued by a HO3S-1 helicopter flown by 1st Lieutenant E. J. McCutcheon.[3]

After a period of hospitalization, he returned to duty at

Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery, Alabama, in July 1953. Upon graduation from the college the following June, he was transferred to Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington, D.C., where he became assistant director, Guided Missiles Division, Bureau of Aeronautics, Department of the Navy. He served in that capacity until January 1956, when he became acting director. The following June he was awarded a master's degree in engineering administration from The George Washington University
, Washington, D.C..

For exceptionally meritorious service in combat, he was advanced to brigadier general upon his retirement on 31 July 1957.

Civilian life and death

He worked as vice president of the conglomerate Ling-Temco-Vought and later as an executive with Bright & Co.[1]

Galer died of a stroke on 27 June 2005 in

Dallas, Texas.[1] He was survived by his second wife, Sharon Alexander Galer, four children and six grandchildren.[1]

Education

Medals and decorations

A complete list of Brig. Gen. Galer's medals and decorations include:

V
Gold star
Gold star
Gold star
Gold star
Gold star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Silver star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Naval Aviator Badge
Medal of Honor
Combat "V"
 Distinguished Flying Cross
w/ 5⁄16" Gold Star 		Purple Heart
Air Medal
w/ four 5⁄16" Gold Stars 		Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal Navy and Marine Corps Presidential Unit Citation
w/ one 3⁄16" Bronze Star
Navy Unit Commendation American Defense Service Medal
w/ Fleet Clasp (3⁄16" Bronze Star) 		American Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal

w/ one 3⁄16" Silver Star 		World War II Victory Medal Navy Occupation Service Medal
w/ 'Japan' clasp
National Defense Service Medal
w/ one 3⁄16" Bronze Star 		Korean Service Medal
w/ four 3⁄16" Bronze Stars 		Distinguished Flying Cross
(United Kingdom)
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
United Nations Korea Medal
 Republic of Korea War Service Medal

Medal of Honor citation

Citation
The
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

for service as set forth in the following CITATION:

Citation: For conspicuous heroism and courage above and beyond the call of duty as leader of a marine fighter squadron in aerial combat with enemy Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands area. Leading his squadron repeatedly in daring and aggressive raids against Japanese aerial forces, vastly superior in numbers, Maj. Galer availed himself of every favorable attack opportunity, individually shooting down 11 enemy bomber and fighter aircraft over a period of 29 days. Though suffering the extreme physical strain attendant upon protracted fighter operations at an altitude above 25,000 feet, the squadron under his zealous and inspiring leadership shot down a total of 27 Japanese planes. His superb airmanship, his outstanding skill and personal valor reflect great credit upon Maj. Galer's gallant fighting spirit and upon the U.S. Naval Service.

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Woo, Elaine (2 July 2005). "Robert Galer, 91; Marine Pilot, Medal of Honor Winner". Los Angeles Times.
  2. ^ Underwater Treasures Archived 2010-06-21 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ISBN 0-425-20725-0
    .

References

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.

External links

Media related to Robert E. Galer at Wikimedia Commons

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